Author: Grace Johnson

US President Donald Trump delivered his latest ultimatum to Iran on Thursday during a Board of Peace meeting. Trump created this Middle East coalition to stabilise the region. He could soon drag that region into a new war. The contrast between peace rhetoric and military threats exposed competing impulses in Trump’s second-term foreign policy. The standoff between Washington and Tehran shows this contradiction most clearly. The escalation could now trigger the largest US air campaign in years. Trump said he prefers diplomacy and wants a deal that ends Iran’s nuclear weapons programme. A White House official said Iran would be…

Mark Zuckerberg appeared in court Wednesday to defend Meta against claims it targeted children and teenagers. Lawyers presented internal documents suggesting the company prioritized younger users. Zuckerberg said the communications were misrepresented. This was his first jury appearance amid years of criticism of Meta, which owns Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. YouTube is also part of the trial, which could influence thousands of related lawsuits. TikTok and Snapchat settled shortly before the trial, with terms undisclosed. Meta maintained it protects young users and blocks accounts under 13. Still, lead plaintiff lawyer Mark Lanier presented emails and research showing Meta employees discussed…

“Life is becoming more expensive,” says Alexander, an advertising specialist from Moscow who works for a large corporation. His monthly food budget jumped by more than 22% within one month, rising from 35,000 roubles to 43,000 roubles. Russia’s economy now sits between stagnation and decline, and many citizens feel the financial impact of the war in Ukraine as it approaches its fourth year. Alexander noticed price increases for almost all essential goods in supermarkets, including eggs, chicken fillets, and seasonal vegetables. Journalists changed all names in this report to protect sources. Even his daily Americano on the way to work…

US President Donald Trump said he will be indirectly involved in talks between Iran and the United States starting later Tuesday in Geneva. He spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One and said he believes Iran wants to reach a deal on its nuclear programme. The second round of talks in Switzerland follows repeated military threats against Iran over its deadly crackdown on anti-government protests and the ongoing dispute over its nuclear programme. On Monday, Iran’s foreign ministry said it believes the US position has moved toward a more realistic stance. Iran Targets Sanctions Relief While US Pushes Wider Issues…

Big Tech companies are accelerating artificial intelligence development with unprecedented capital expenditure. They plan spending above 700 billion dollars in 2026, equal to about 590 billion euros. This represents a roughly 75 percent increase compared with 2025. Several companies released earnings reports and outlined their spending plans. Analysts confirmed these projections and stressed their strategic importance. Wall Street focuses heavily on the combined capital expenditure figure. The market tracks more than 700 billion dollars flowing into AI infrastructure this year. That amount exceeds Sweden’s nominal GDP for 2025, according to IMF estimates. Global chip sales are expected to reach one…

Health agencies warn that measles still pose a major challenge in Europe, despite a decline in cases in 2025 compared with the previous year’s record. Experts urge immediate action to counter vaccine hesitancy and prevent renewed outbreaks across the continent. Measles often fade from public attention, but they continue to spread in several countries. Europe reported 127,350 measles cases in 2024, which marked the highest total since 1997. Cases declined in 2025, but infections still doubled compared with 2023, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Sabrina Bacci, head of the ECDC programme on vaccine-preventable diseases and…

Aluminium prices dropped on Friday, while zinc, nickel, and lead also declined. Investors reacted to reports that US President Donald Trump might ease tariffs on metal imports. Markets priced in the potential change ahead of November’s midterm elections. The three-month aluminium contract on the London Metal Exchange fell more than 2.5% to $2,965.75 per tonne by midday. The most active contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange lost 1.76%, closing at 23,195 yuan per tonne. Broader Pullback Hits Industrial Metals Zinc traded at $3,316.50 per tonne, down $51.95 or 1.54%. Nickel fell $257 to $16,993.38 per tonne, a decline of 1.49%.…

US President Donald Trump revoked a 2009 scientific finding that classified greenhouse gases as a danger to human health. The rule had formed the legal foundation for federal efforts to curb emissions from cars, power plants, and industry. The White House called the action the “largest deregulation in American history,” claiming it will lower vehicle costs by $2,400 and reduce burdens on automakers. Environmental groups called it the most significant climate rollback yet and promised to challenge it in court. Trump criticizes Obama-era policy Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said the 2009 finding was “a disastrous policy that hurt…

Tight Vote Shows Cracks Inside Republican Ranks The US House of Representatives voted to overturn President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods. Lawmakers approved the resolution with 219 votes in favor and 211 votes against. Six Republican lawmakers joined Democrats to support the measure. The vote remains symbolic because the US Senate must approve the resolution and Trump must sign it. Trump is very unlikely to sign the measure into law. Trump Pushed Tariffs After Securing Re-Election Trump imposed several tariffs on Canada after his re-election. He recently threatened a 100% import tax in response to Canada’s proposed trade deal…

FDA Declines to Review Seasonal Flu Vaccine Application The US Food and Drug Administration refused to accept Moderna’s application to review its first mRNA seasonal flu vaccine. The company announced the decision on Tuesday. The refusal delivers another blow to mRNA vaccine development in the United States. Several health officials in the Trump administration have recently criticized the technology. The FDA said the application lacked an adequate and well-controlled trial. The agency said the control group did not reflect the best available standard of care in the United States during the study. Moderna said regulators did not identify any safety…